 (Nick Galifianakis for The Post) | Adapted from an online discussion. Dear Carolyn: About a month ago, my mother had a procedure scheduled in my brother's metro area, about four hours from my parents'. The plan was for my parents to stay with my brother and his family for about a week. My mother experienced complications and was in the hospital while my dad was staying with them, which was stressful and open-ended. It came to a head one morning over breakfast. Between work, my mother and the kids' stuff, they didn't have time to make dinner and eat it together, so my sister-in-law planned DoorDash. My father said my older niece, 15, should cook dinner when she gets home from school. My sister-in-law said she can't because she has two school projects due the next day. My father reiterated his point. My niece said he can make dinner himself if he wants a home-cooked meal. My father slapped my niece in the face. My brother and sister-in-law kicked my father out of their house. My brother still deals with our parents at the hospital, but he refuses to allow our father to be around his children. I flew out to get my father into a hotel and generally help. It is very obvious my father is experiencing a change in personality consistent with early-onset dementia. Here is my perspective check: I think my brother is overreacting. I think an apology from my niece to my father for smarting off would go a long way. I suggested this to my brother to smooth things over, and he refused it as an option. My siblings supported my brother. I feel as if I'm alone in getting help for my father and as if my family is fragmented over something that isn't that big of a deal. Can you or your readers give some perspective here? — Perspective Check | 
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